Fishing reel



Dec 2?, 1949 F. scHuLz 2,492,819

FISHING REEL Filed Jan. 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2/ 42 INVENTOR.

FV4/VK 56/!12 I Dec. 27, 1949 SCHULZ 2,492,819

FISHING REEL Filed Jan. 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ,Fl zm Scumgz D 27, 1949 F. SCHULZ 2,492,819

' FISHING REEL Filed Jan. 7, 194.8 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. [If/$14K 50/1114 z Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FISHING REEL Frank Schulz, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 7, 1948, Serial No. 934

7 Claims. 1

My present invention relates generally to reeling devices, and has particular reference to fishing reels.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a fishing reel in which the mechanism is more efficiently shielded against impairment of operation by the entry of sand or other matter.

A fishing reel of modern type comprises a spool, a holder which includes a pair of spaced parallel disks between which the spool is journaled, a crank handle, and transmission mechanism between the handle and spool. The mechanism generally includes a chain of gears, a ratchet, a clutch for engaging and disengaging the spool, and usually a second clutch or so-called star drag of adjustable frictional character to allow for slippage when a. fish is pulling on the line. For reliable smooth operation, these movable and cooperating parts must be maintained in clean well-lubricated condition.

I have found that one of the main shortcomings of such reels, as heretofore designed, arises from the fact that at least some of the essential parts of the mechanism are usually mounted on the spool side of one of the holding disks, whereby the entry of sand and other foreign matter is almost unavoidable, with consequent impairment of operation. One of the features of the present invention resides in so designing the parts that the mechanism is not only located in its entirety on the outside of one of said disks, but is housed and enclosed in an unusually efllcient manner to protect it thoroughly from undesirable contamination.

Furthermore, such protective housings as have been heretofore suggested are often deficient because of the provision of at least one opening for the passage of clutch-controlling and other parts. It is common knowledge that sand and other contaminating matter will sooner or later find its way into the mechanism even through small openings of this kind. In my present improved construction, there are no openings at all, and the continued smoothly-operating interplay of the several parts is thus assured over long periods of use.

Other important features of the invention lie in an arrangement of parts which permits these advantages to be achieved without sacrifice of the refined adjustments which fishermen are accustomed to find, and to desire, in fine quality reels; in a design which permits a more compact assembly of elements and results in a reel whose over-all dimensions are less than those of ordinary reels of comparable character; in innova- 2 tions which not only simplify the mode of operation and control, but which impart a more desirable gear ratio between crank and spool; and, in general, in a structure which is economicallymanufacturable, of workmanlike character, and of attractive appearance.

I achieve these general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinfter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a fishing reel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in the direction 4-4 of Figure 3, with the protective housing and other parts removed, and with certain parts shown in crosssection and by dot-and-dash lines, to reveal the enclosed mechanism;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of certain of the parts;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssection of the left-hand end of the reel as viewed in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the clutch end of the spool spindle;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the corresponding clutch element of the reel mechanism;

Figure 9 is an exploded view of certain cooperating parts of the so-called star drag clutch; and

Figure 10 is an exploded view of the handle and ratchet elements.

The spool holder consists of the two spaced parallel disks 2!] and 2! (see Figures 1 and 3) maintained in proper relationship at all times by the usual longitudinal rods 22 extending between them and secured by means of screws 23 or the like. Also extending between the disks 20, 2| is the element 24 by means of which the reel may be removably secured to a fishing rod, in usual fashion.

The spool that is journaled between the disks 2!] and 21 has the usual core 25 (Figure 6), and opposite end walls 26 and 21. These walls are slightly convexed outwardly, as shown. At the left-hand end of the reel, as viewed in Figure 1, the spool is provided with a hub 28 which fits loosely over a pin 29 carried by the disk 20. This pin may be held in position by forming it as part of an element which has the head 30 permanently secured to the disk by means of screws 3| (see Figure 6).

At the right-hand end of the reel, as viewed in Figure 1, the hub of the spool terminates in a part which has the axial bore 32, and which is provided with diametrically-spaced projections or lugs 33 (Figure 7) The spool end 21 is permanently secured to the hub 25 directly behind this clutch portion, as indicated in Figure 3. The wall 27 has been omitted from Figure '7.

On each of the disks 2?; and 2| there is a marginal overhang on the spool side, and the edge of the corresponding end wall of the spool accommodates itself within the confines of this overhang. In the illustrated construction, the

body of each disk 20, 2! is composedof Bakelite or the like, and this overhang isformed bya metal rim 34 secured to it (see Figure 3).

The crank handle by means of which the movements of the spool are controlled is designated by the reference numeral 35. Operatively interposed between this handle and the spool is a driving mechanism of the kind hereinbefore referred to; In accordance with the present invention, this entire mechanism is mounted on the outer side of the disk 2|, i. e., the side which is remote from the spool. To support this mechanism, several parts which will now be described are rigidly carried by the disk 2 I.

It should be pointed out, first, that the disk 2| is provided with a circular central aperture, aligned with the spool axis, and preferably provided: with a lining or bearing member 36.. Carried by the disk are a series of posts 31 (see Figure 4). These posts are preferably three in number, arranged in symmetrical relation. As shown most clearly in Figure 3', each post may be in screw-threaded engagement with the disk 2l| and iszsurrounded by a sleeve 38. Supported on these posts is a substantially triangular plate 39 having acentral opening. Permanently secured to the plate 39 is. an axial tubular shaft whose inner end projects through the central aperture inthe disk 2:! and into the bore 32 of the spool axle. The shaft is of lesser diameter than the aperture in the disk 2|, so that an annular space is provided into which the clutch elements 33 of the spool axle may extend.

From this description, it will be noted that the shaft 4|) does not rotate, and is fixedly held in position by the plate 39 which is, in turn, fixedly carried by the disk 2|.

A-l'so fixedly carried by the disk 2| is a pin- 42 which may be of any suitable construction (see Figure 3). I have shown it in the form of a single element of circular cross-section having a threaded end 63 engaging within a corresponding threaded sleeve 52' mounted within the disk 2 The operative and movable parts of the present mechanism are supported on these several fixed elements- Starting at the handle end, it should beobserved (Figure 10) that th handle isprovided with an aperture 45 having a flattened edge 46. This permits the handle to fit non-rotatabl'y over the rear end A! of the sleeve-like element 56 shown. The part 21 is exteriorly threaded and: has a flattened surface 8 corresponding to the edge 45. An internally-threaded cap 49 engages: with the threads on the part 41 (see Figure 39 after the handle 35 has been applied. This secures the handle to the part 41, so that rotathe movements of the handle will at all times cause corresponding rotative movements of the element 56..

Forwardly of the part 41, this element provided with the slightly enlarged part 50 whose rear portion is externally threaded. This provides the shoulder 5| against which the handle 35 abuts. The purpose of the threads on the part 53 is to support the star drag element which will be described hereinafter.

Forwardly of the part 50, the element 56 is provided with the conical wall portion 52, and with the peripheral ratchet teeth 53.

The free rotation of this element on the fixed shaft 40' may be facilitated by the introduction of a ball bearing 55, as shown in Figure 3. The element 55 is held in position by a screw 55 which engages with internal threads formed in the end of th shaft 48. The screw 55 has a head which bears against an internal shoulder formed in the element 56.

Engaging with the ratchet teeth 53 is a pawl 51 pivotally supported on one of the pins 31. The pawl is yieldably pressed against the ratchet teeth bya suitable spring such as that shown at 58. in Figure: 4- One end of this spring engages. with the pawl 57, the other is secured to the disk 2| as at 59.

. The rotation of thev element 56 is transmitted to the balance of the mechanism by frictional contact of the conical wall 52 with a cooperating comically-shaped element 60 which is carried by the ring gear 6!. The latter gear has the internal teeth 52 at its periphery, and it is mounted for free rotation upon the unthreaded part of the element 56, as shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 5.

The degree of friction between the surfaces, 52 and 60 may be varied bythe star drag control. This consists of an element 63 with radialfingers adapted to be engaged by the user. Onthis element there. is a hub portion 6.4 whose rear end is internally threaded as at 65.. ifhese threads engage with the threads on the part 5! of the element 56,. and are of such suitable pitch that slight rotations of the elementfiS will cause corresponding advancement of this element toward and away from. the reel as a whole. The forward face 55 of the hub 64 pressesagainst the rear face of a sleeve 6?! loosely mounted upon the part 53. The forward face 68 of the sleeve 67 presses againstthe axial" part of the ring gear 5|. Accordingly, a slightrotative adjustment of the element 63 will cause the ring gear 6| to press with desired degrees of force against the conical driving surface 52.

Rotatably mounted on the pin: 42 is: a unit consisting of the spur gears 59 and 70. The gear is the smaller of the two, and itsteeth are in constant engagement with the teeth 62 of the ring gear. Theteeth of the gear 10 are in constant engagement with the teeth ii of the clutch element (2 shown most clearly in Figure 8. This element has an axial borewhich permits it to fit slid'ably yet rotatably upon the shaft 40. At its forward end, this element is provided with diametrically opposed recesses i3 adapted to engage with the projections 33 whenever the recesses 13 andthe projections 33' are in alignment. When such engagement is effected, by shifting the element 72 along the shaft 45-, the rotative movement of the handle 35 will Ice-transmitted through the gears 6|, 69, 10 and I2 to the spool axle 25-, thereby causing the latter to rotate. When the projections 33 are disengaged from the recesses 13, by'retractionof the clutch element 72, the spool is freed to rotate at will.

During the shiftingmovements of the clutch element 12, to engageand disengage the-spool' the gear teeth H remain in constant engagement with the teeth on the gear 10, as shown in Figure 3. (For clarity of illustration, Figure shows the gear teeth and ii in separated relation.)

In accordance with my invention, the clutch control, i. e., the means for causing shifting movements of the clutch element 12, is in the form of a housing which is supported on the disk 2| and which completely encloses the entire mechanism.

The clutch control consists in the odd-shaped,

plate It which engages with the clutch element 12 but does not rotate with the latter. The plate It which I have chosen to illustrate has three substantially radial fingers, each of which is provided with a hole 15 (see Figure 5) to fit loosely over one of the sleeves 38. Each finger is also of curved or Warped configuration, as shown most clearly in Figure 5, so that its free end is engageable by a corresponding cam 16. Where the element it has three cam-following fingers a corresponding number of cams 16 are provided. The cams it consist of suitably shaped plates carried on the interior of the housing 11. This housing is cup-shaped. At its center, it is provided with an aperture which fits snugly over the sleeve 57. At its periphery, the housing 11 is provided with a rim it which fits snugly over the peripheral edge of the disk 2|. At stragetic intervals around the circumference of the rim 78, slots 19 are provided, as shown most clearly in Figure 1. Each slot fits over a projecting pin 80 carried by the disk 2!. Accordingly, the housing Tl may be rotated through slight distances limited by the engagement of the opposite ends of each slot 19 with the corresponding pin 80. shaped that when the housing is rotated in one direction these cams will bear against the plate i l and press it toward the disk 2|; and when the housing H is rotated in the opposite direction, the plate H5 is permitted to return to its normal position. The latter movement is eifected by means of springs 8 I, there being one such spring on each of the posts 38, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

Obviously, when the plate 14 is moved toward the disk 2| (against the action of the springs 8| the clutch element 12 is shifted to eiiect engagement with the spool; and when the plate 14 is retracted by the action of the springs 8|, a corresponding disengagement is effected.

Accordingly, as a result of this design and arrangement of parts, the mechanism of the reel is efiiciently enclosed at all times, and the ingress of sand or other foreign matter is practically impossible. will enter the space between the disk 2| and the spool end 21, any such matter is nevertheless prevented from encountering the mechanism since the disk 2! constitutes a substantial barrier at this side of the mechanism. At the opposite side, the snug passage of the sleeve 61 through the housing base assures complete protection at this side of the mechanism. And the peripheral wall is sealed throughout its extent, except for the slots l9, and since these slots do not give access to the interior of the housing, there is no danger of contamination along this surface. At the same time, the refined and usual adjustments are all available to the user. The spool can be engaged or disengaged from the handle control by slight rotative movements of the housing; and during periods of engagement a slippage is provided for by the star drag in usual fashion.

Other advantages of the structure lie in the fact that it is unusually compact, attractive in The earns 76 are so Thus, while it is unlikely that sand appearance, and capable of providing for a highly desirable gear ratio between the handle movements and the spool rotation.

In general, it will be understood that many of the details herein described and illustrated are purely illustrative and that those skilled in the art may readily make changes in some or all of these details without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a fishing reel, a spool, a holder comprising spaced parallel disks between which the spool is journaled, a crank handle, transmission mechanism between said handle and spool and located. substantially in its entirety on the outside of. one of said disks, said mechanism including a clutch for releasable engagement with said spool, a substantially cylindrical housing supported on said disk and enclosing said mechanism, said housing being rotatively shiftable on its axis, and means controlled by the shifting of said housing for operating said clutch.

2. In a fishing reel, a spool, a holder comprising spaced parallel disks between which the spool is journaled, a crank handle, transmission mechanism between said handle and spool and located substantially in its entirety on the outside of one of said disks, said mechanism including a clutch for releasable engagement with said spool, a housing shiftably supported on said disk and enclosing said mechanism, and means controlled by the shifting of said housing for operating said clutch, said means comprising a cam carried by said housing, and a cam follower operatively engaging said clutch.

3. In a fishing reel, a spool, a holder comprising spaced parallel disks between which the spool is journaled, a crank handle, transmission mechanism between said handle and spool and located substantially in its entirety on the outside of one of said disks, said mechanism including a clutch for releasable engagement with said spool, a housing shiftably supported on said disk and enclosing said mechanism, and means controlled by the shifting of said housing for operating said clutch, said means comprising a reciprocable element operatively engaging said clutch, a spring constantly urging said element in one direction, and a cam carried by said housing and adapted to move said element against the action of said spring.

4. In a fishing reel, a spool, a holder comprising spaced parallel circular disks between which the spool is journaled, a crank handle, transmission mechanism between said handle and spool and located substantially in its entirety on the outside of one of said disks, said mechanism including a clutch for releasable engagement with said spool, a circular housing enclosing said mechanism and concentrically supported on said disk in a manner which permits rotative shifting movements thereof, and means controlled by the shifting of said housing for operating said clutch.

5. In a fishing reel, a spool, a holder comprising spaced parallel circular disks between which the spool is journaled, a crank handle, transmissiOn mechanism between said handle and spool and located substantially in its entirety on the outside of one of said disks, said mechanism including a clutch for releasable engagement with said spool,- a circular housing enclosing said mechanism and concentrically supported on said.

diskin a manner whichpermits rotative, shifting movements thereof,-and means controlled'bythe shifting of said housing for operating said clutch,

said meanscomprising a-plurality of circumferentially-spaced cams carried by said housing, and

an element operatively engaging said clutch and provided with cam follower portions encounter- 6. In a fishing reel, a spool, a holder comprising spaced parallel disks between which the spool is "journaled, one of said disks having a central circular aperture therethrough and said spoolbeing provided at one end-witha spindle aligned with said aperture, a crank handle, transmission mechanism between said handle and spool and located substantially in its entirety on the outside of said apertured disk, said mechanism including a-shiftable clutch element having a part which projects'through said apertureto engage and disengage with said spindle, and a clutch control in the form of a housing supported on said disk and enclosing said mechanism.

7. In a fishing reel, a spool, a holder comprising spaced parallel disks between which the spool is journaled, one of said disks having a central circular aperture therethrough and said spool being provided at one end with a spindle aligned with said aperture, a crank handle, transmission mechanism between said handle and spool and by and rotatable with said-handle, an internallytoothed ring gear driven by said driving element,

located substantially in its entirety on the out- 30 side of said apertured disk, said transmission a rotatable but axially shiftable clutch element having a part which projects through said aperture to engage and disengage with saidspindle, a gear chain operatively interposed between said ring gear and said clutch element, a spring constantly urging said clutch element out of engagement with said spindle, a housing enclosing said mechanism and rotatively shiftably mounted on said disk, and a cam element carried by said housing and adapted, when the housing is shifted, to move said clutch element into engagement with said spindle.

FRANK SCHULZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record .inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 522,323 Freese July 3, 1894 1,463,828 Malleson Aug. 7, 1923 1,523,983 Lauterbach Jan. 20, 1925 2,001,521 Cattley May 14, 1935 2,130,581 Case Sept. 20, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 27,417 Great Britain of 1902 

